Container closures



1 J. E. WALDRUM 3,268,125

CONTAINER CLOSURES Filed July 24, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet l --49----- %us I8 31 F|G.8

INVENTOR.

JOHN E. WALDRUM BYMKW ATTORNEY 7 I 5 2 33 30 i I Aug. 23, 1966 J. E. WALDRUM CONTAINER CLOSURES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 24, 1964 INVENTOR. JOHN E. WALDRUM ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,268,125 CONTAINER CLOSURES John E. Waldrum, 349 Fairview Ave., Ambler, Pa. Filed July 24, 1964, Ser. No. 385,005 8 Claims. '(Cl. 222-482) This invention relates in general to the field of containers and is more particularly directed to a novel type of closure featuring a male fitting designed for use with the nozzle of a receptacle having compatible configuration. When required, the scope of the invention may be expanded into the field of tamperproof closures, as the unique construction makes such an application particularly desirable in many instances.

The closure comprises a male fitting designed to be used in combination with a female receptacle. The principle of operation requires the wall of the closure to be flexible to a degree and constructed of a material suitable to resist permanent deformation. The leading edge is tapered and terminates in an arrow-like angle which allows the closure to enter the receptacle upon urging in the direction of closure. The barb-like configuration can make removal difiicult or even impossible without permanent damage if so desired. The natural resiliency of the closure material assures a tight seal once the fitting is properly seated.

Many workers have entered the field of container closures and certain tamperproof closures are now obtainable. Research indicates that all of the workable prior art is concerned with affixing the closure about the exterior of the container nozzle and no presently available closures employ male fittings. While many successful types of closures are in wide-spread use, none can equal the low cost of the instant invention and at the same time produce guaranteed sealing action in all instances. By utilizing the natural resiliency of the material pushing uniformly outwardly, successful sealing may :be assured in all designs incorporating the instant invention.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a novel container closure in contact with the interior surface of a receptacle and affixed thereto.

It is another object of this invention to provide a novel container closure utilizing the natural resiliency of the material to assure positive sealing.

It is another object of this invention to provide a novel container closure that may readily be adapted for use as a tamperproof cap when such closure is required.

It is another object of this invention to provide a novel container closure employing operating portions of different diameters, parts of which cooperate with interior construction of container to complete the sealing function.

It is another object of this invention to provide a novel container closure featuring unique open and closed positions to permit rescaling and reuse of the contents of the receptacle.

It is another object of this invention to provide a novel container closure that is inexpensive in manufacture, simple in operation and provides positive sealing action at all times when in use.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention will be had by referring to the following description and claims of a preferred embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

FIG. 1 is a partial cross sectional view of a closure and receptacle.

FIG. 2 is a partial cross sectional view of a closure and modified type of receptacle.

FIG. 3 is a perspective quarter section view of the closure.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of a receptacle and a tamper-proof type of closure.

FIG. 5 is a perspective quarter section view of a tamper-proof closure.

FIG. 6 is a perspective quarter section view of a tamper-proof closure with end cut open.

FIG. 7 is a perspective quarter section view of a tamper-proof closure with end cut open and cut portion twisted.

FIG. 8 is a cross section view showing a modified tamper-proof type of closure.

FIG. 9 is a partial cross sectional view showing a receptacle and a closure incorporating an integral, retractable pouring spout.

FIG. 10 is a partial cross sectional view showing the closure of FIG. 9 in the closed position.

FIG. 11 is a perspective quarter sectional view of the closure of FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 is a partial cross sectional view showing a receptacle and a closure incorporating an integral, curved, retractable pouring spout.

FIG. 13 is a partial cross sectional view showing the closure of FIG. 12 in the closed position.

FIG. 14 is a perspective quarter sectional view of the closure of FIG. 12.

FIG. 15 is a partial cross sectional view of a bottle and modified type of tamper-proof closure.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the tamper-proof closure of FIG. 15 with top cut.

Although specific terms are used in the following description for the sake of clarity, these terms are in tended to refer only to the particular structure of my invention selected for illustration in the drawings and are not intended to define or limit the scope of the invention.

As seen in the drawings, the closure comprises essentially a male fitting generally designated A designed for use with a female receptacle generally designated B. The cap is fabricated from a flexible resilient material having a relatively firm body such as polyethylene plastic while the container may be of unyielding material such as metal, glass or plastic.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, I show a cap 10 including circular top 11 and integral, depending, generally cylindrical sides 12 defining an interior cavity space 13. Interior wall 14 of side 12 may be generally vertical while exterior wall 15 tapers inwardly from point of top connection 16 and terminates in a closure lock 17. Lock 17 comprises a barb-like construction including an inwardly tapered, exterior inserting face 18 and a horizontal locking surface 19 joining top of face 18 with bottom of tapered wall 15 and defining a locking ledge.

Receptacle B is provided with a circular opening 20 that is generally concentrically positioned in the top surface 21 for cooperation and positive closure with male fitting A. As seen in FIG. 1, the material of top 21 may be bent inwardly forming an acute angle 22 with the horizontal and shaping a circular, tapered lip 23 to prevent easy removal of the cap. It is the essence of this invention that the angle of taper of wall 15 of cap 10 be exactly the same as the angle of taper of lip 23 so that a tight leak-proof closure may be obtained when the cap is positioned into opening 20. Further, it is desirable to fabricate the inclined, overall height 24 of lip 23 slightly greater than the inclined, overall height 25 of inserting face 18.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a male fitting A may be utilized with a receptacle B that has been provided with a modified opening 26 constructed to permit easy removal of the cap. As indicated in the drawing, the material of top 21 bends inwardly thereby forming circular opening 26 and providing a depending lip 27 bent at two contiguous angles, one above the other. Uppermost lip section 28 forms an acute angle 29 with the horizontal While lower lip section 30 forms an obtuse angle 31 with the horizontal to permit easy removal of the closure. It should be noted that the angle and height of uppermost lip section 28 in FIG. 2 is the same as the angle and height of the wall shown in FIG. 1 thereby causing cap 10 to be locked in position in the same manner in each receptacle. However, as seen in FIG. 1, locking surface 19 of cap 10 engages upon bottom 32 of lip 23 preventing easy removal. In FIG. 2, locking surface 19 of the cap is not engaged, but rather, is free to slide upon the interior face 33 of lower lip section thereby permitting cap 10 to be readily removed upon the application of upward pressure.

It is thus seen that when cap 113 is forced into opening 20 or 26 of receptacle B, sides 12 compress as inserting face 18 slides downwardly upon inclined lip 23 of FIG. 1 or inclined upper section 23 of lip 27 of FIG. 2. The peripheral compression forces about side 12 impart a stress on the top 11 of cap 14) causing the top to arch slightly upwardly and outwardly. As the inserting face 18 passes lip 23 or upper section 28 of lip 27 depending upon the type of receptacle in use, exterior wall 15 of the cap interlocks with the lip 23 or upper section 28. The angle of inclination of wall 15 lip 23 and upper section 23 are constructed equal and their diameters are also equal to provide a tight interlock. The side 12 and stressed top 11 of cap 10 maintain a constant pressure against the lip 23 or 27 of receptacle. This action and construction forms a tight seal and when desired, as hereinafter set forth, a tamper-proof seal. Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 8, I show a modified closure of the tamper-proof type incorporating an elongated pouring spout 34 for use with a receptacle provided with a top opening that is peripherally lined with an acute angle interior lip 23 as hereinbefore set forth in FIG. 1. Inserting face 18, inclined exterior Wall 15 and joining locking surface 19 encircle bottom of spout 34 in the same manner as described for cap 111 for securing spout 34 to receptacle B. Limiting flange 35 prevents spout from slipping into container and defines the top of exterior inclined wall 15. Elongated cylindrical walls 36 encircle and define spout cavity 37 and support severable top 38. Cavity 37 may be constructed with straight top 33 extending above cut line 40 as seen in FIG. 8 or with arched top 41 as shown in FIG. 4.

Base 42 of arched cavity top 41 springs from interior surface 43 of spout 34 just below cut line 40. When top 38 is severed along line 40, a small, upwardly protruding lip 45 remains to receive inclined edge 44 of the top 38 and to secure horizontal locking surface 46 thereon. Strap 47 joins side 36 of pouring spout with top 33 and is constructed of flexible material capable of being twisted and bent numerous times without breaking. As seen in FIG. 8, exterior sides 48 of cap 38 are cylindrical having diameter 50 equal to internal diameter 49 of cavity 37. In order to use the tamperproof spouts of FIGS. 4 and 8, the closure is first forced into opening 20 of the receptacle until exterior wall 15 contacts surface of lip 23 and locking surface 19 seats upon bottom 32 of lip 23 thereby I locking the spout in position. In order to pour the contents of the receptacle, it is necessary that the top 38 be severed from side 36 of spout 34 by cutting completely through sidewalls 36 along line 40.

The contents of receptacle B may then be poured through cavity 37 which is exposed to outer air by the retmoval of top 38. Closure may be accomplished simply 'by turning the top 38 through one hundred and eighty degrees by twisting strap 47 and then inserting top section 51 into the top of the exposed cavity 37. The device of FIG. 4 will provide a lock type closure while the invention of FIG. 8 will be simply a press fit.

Referring now to FIGS. 9, 10, 11, I show a receptacle B equipped with an integral, retractable pouring spout 52 featuring an elongated cylindrical sleeve 53 slidably arranged within opening 21) of the receptacle in telescoping relation. Solid top 54 closes upper end 55 of sleeve 53 providing a circular retaining flange 56 of diameter greater than that of opening 21) to prevent sleeve from slipping into the receptacle. Inclined exterior wall 15 extends below flange 56 and is joined to inserting face 18 by locking surface 19 in the same manner hereinbefore set foith in the description of FIG. 1 to provide a locking closure. Should it be desired, the closure arrangement set forth in FIG. 2 could be similarly employed for use with sleeve 53. In order to effectively pour the contents from the container, a large circular opening 57 is provided in its Wall near the upper end 55. Diametrically opposite and near the bottom 58 of the sleeve, a small opening 59 vents the system and prevents gurgling when the contents of the receptacle exit through opening 20 and hole 57 during the pouring operation. A small annular shoulder 66 encircles bottom 58 of sleeve 53 and acts as a stop when the pouring spent 52 is pulled to the open position. When it is desired to close the receptacle opening 26, closure may be readily accomplished by telescoping sleeve 53 within receptacle B until locking surface 19 engages upon bottom 32 of lip 23.

In FIGS. 12, 13, 14, I show a modification of the pouring sleeve of FIGS. 10, ll, 9 wherein a curved sleeve 61 is bent to a ninety degree angle and is slidably arranged within opening 21). This gives the closure a hinged effect when being opened and places the pouring opening at right angles to the wall 62 of the receptacle when in open position 63 as seen in FIG. 12. Top closure means and bottom retaining shoulder are provided for curved sleeve 61 in exactly the same manner as set forth in the description of the device shown in FIGS. 10, 11, 9.

Referring now to FIGS. 15, 16, I show a tamperproof closure suitable for use with drugs, medicines and similar commodities wherein purity of the contents must be maintained and tampering completely eliminated. The bottle 64 may be of glass or plastic having a pouring nozzle 65 containing a pouring opening 66. An interior shoulder 67 is machined into inside wall 68 of pouring nozzle 65 thereby providing a cooperating locking surface to retain engaging surface 69 formed near bottom 70 of tamperproof closure 78. Inclined inserting ring 71 of larger diameter greater than that of closure extends beyond outer wall 72 of closure a distance sufficient to provide an adequate engaging surface 69 to prevent removal of the closure once closure 78 has been inserted into the pouring nozzle 65 of the bottle 64 a distance sufiicient to cause engaging surface 69 to lock upon shoulder 67.

Closure 78 is constructed with a generally hollow interior cavern 73 which is sealed on sides and top by a liquid impervious rubber insert 82 and provided with an opening 74 at the bottom 75 to permit access to the bottle contents (not shown). A cylindrical, axial aligned passageway 76 exposes rubber insert to top 77 of the closure once cap 79 has been removed by severing along cut line 80. In order to use closure '78, it is contemplated that bottle 64 will be filled and then closure 78 inserted into pouring opening 66. By applying pressure, inclined ring 71 may be forced downwardly until engaging surface 69 locks upon shoulder 67, thereby locking the closure permanently in position. In order to reach the bottle contents, cap 79 can be removed by severing it along out line 80, thus exposing upper opening 31 of passageway 76. Using a hyperdermic needle or similar instrument inserted through passageway 76 the rubber insert 82 may be pierced and the bottle contents reached by passing the needle through cavern '73 of closure 78 and nozzle 65 of bottle 64. Upon removal of the needle, it is contemplated that the small opening thus made in the rubber insert will seal itself thus permitting repeated use of the bottle until its contents have been exhausted.

Although I have described my invention with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. In a container closure, the combination of a receptacle provided with a circular opening and a pouring spout slidably arranged within said opening, said receptacle provided with spout retaining means; said spout comprising an elongated, hollow, cylindrical sleeve telescoping Within said opening, said sleeve being closed at upper end by a solid top of diameter greater than diameter of both sleeve and diameter of said opening providing an annular retaining flange, an inwardly tapered exterior sleeve wall extending downwardly from said top being set off from an inwardly inclined inserting face by a lo-cking surface, said locking surface contacting said spout retaining means when spout is in the closed position, said sleeve having open bottom and an annular retaining shoulder encircling said bottom, said sleeve provided with a large pouring opening immediately below said inserting surface and a relatively small vent opening provided in said sleeve diametrically opposite from said pouring opening and closer to said bottom annular shoulder.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said spout retaining means include a portion of the material of said receptacle being bent to an acute angle with the horizontal at the base of said opening.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said sleeve is bent to a right angle intermediate its said top and bottom.

4. In a tamperproof closure, the combination of a male fitting and a female receptacle receiving said fitting, said receptacle terminating upwardly in an elongated, hollow pouring nozzle, said nozzle having cylindrical sidewalls with open top and bottom, and an interior shoulder machined into said bottom of nozzle forming a locking surface; said fitting being of generally hollow cylindrical construction having cylindrical sidewalls, open bottom and closed top, an inwardly inclined inserting ring encircling exterior of said fitting at said bottom, the top of said ring extending beyond surface of said fitting a distance sulficient to define an engaging surface of width equal to width of said interior shoulder of nozzle, a liquid impervious flexible material lining interior surfaces of said fittng, a severable cap integrally formed with said fitting, and top portion of said fittng provided with a concentric passageway from said liner to said cap whereby said liner is exposed through said passageway upon removal of said cap.

5. The invention of claim 4 wherein the outer diameter of said inserting ring of fitting is slightly greater than internal diameter of said nozzle.

6. The invention of claim 4 wherein said cylindrical sidewalls of fitting contact said sidewalls of nozzle when engaging surface of fitting locks upon said interior shoulder of nozzle.

7. In a tamperproof closure, the combination of an elongated, hollow, cylindrical male fitting and a female receptacle, the said fitting being contained within the said receptacle, the said fitting terminating at the bottom thereof in an outwardly projecting barb and terminating at the top thereof in a solid severable cap; a flexible strap connecting the said cap to the said fitting; the said receptacle being provided with a circular opening of sufficient width to receive the said barb; means to lock the said barb within the said receptacle opening; means to reclose the said fitting upon severing the said cap, said means including an upwardly facing, cylindrical extension peripherally formed at the top of the said cap, the said extension being constructed to a diameter suitable to jam within the said hollow interior of the male fitting.

8. In a tamperproof closure, the combination of an elongated, hollow, cylindrical male fitting and a female receptacle, the said fitting being contained within the said receptacle, the said fitting terminating at the bottom thereof in an outwardly projecting barb and terminating at the top thereof in a solid severable cap; a flexible strap connecting the said cap to the said fitting; the said receptacle being provided with a circular opening of suflicient width to receive the said barb; means to lock the said barb within the said receptacle opening; means to reclose the said fitting upon severing the said cap, said means including the top of the cap itself upon severing the cap from the fitting, the said top being circularly formed and having depending sidewalls, said sidewalls tapering outwardly and terminating downwardly in a locking surface, the minimum external diameter at the top of the sidewalls being slightly smaller than the internal diameter of the said hollow male fitting and the maximum diameter at the said locking surface being slightly greater than the internal diameter of the said hollow male fitting.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,690,861 10/1954 Tupper 222-498 2,761,597 9/1954 Stukey 222-525 2,772,037 11/1956 Rieke w 222-481 2,774,523 12/1956 Rieke 222-525 2,907,489 10/1959 Taylor 222-541 X 2,980,300 4/1961 Waddington et al. 222-482 X 3,003,490 lO/1961 Deterding et al 215-41 X 3,042,242 7/1962 Abt 215-41 3,101,878 8/1963 Bee 222-543 X 3,167,218 1/1965 Graham 222-543 X 3,172,573 3/1965 Parish et al 222-525 X FOREIGN PATENTS 1,220,045 1/ 1960 France.

887,211 1/ 1962 Great Britain.

RAPHAEL M. LUPO, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A CONTAINER CLOSURE, THE COMBINATION OF A RECEPTACLE PROVIDED WITH A CIRCULAR OPENING AND A POURING SPOUT SLIDABLY ARRANGED WITHIN SAID OPENING, SAID RECEPTACLE PROVIDED WITH SPOUT RETAINING MEANS; SAID SPOUT COMPRISING AN ELONGATED, HOLLOW, CYLINDRICAL SLEEVE TELESCOPING WITHIN SAID OPENING, SAID SLEEVE BEING CLOSED AT UPPER END BY A SOLID TOP OF DIAMETER GREATER THAN DIAMETER OF BOTH SLEEVE AND DIAMETER OF SAID OPENING PROVIDING AN ANNULAR RETAINING FLANGE, AN INWARDLY TAPERED EXTERIOR SLEEVE WALL EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY FROM SAID TOP BEING SET OFF FROM AN INWARDLY INCLINED INSERTING FACE BY A LOCKING SURFACE, SAID LOCKING SURFACE CONTACTING SAID SPOUT RETAINING MEANS WHEN SPOUT IS IN THE CLOSED POSITION, SAID SLEEVE HAVING OPEN BOTTOM AND AN ANNULAR RETAINING SHOULDER ENCIRCLING SAID BOTTOM, SAID SLEEVE PROVIDED WITH A LARGE POURING OPENING IMMEDIATELY BELOW SAID INSERTING SURFACE AND A RELATIVELY SMALL VENT OPENING PROVIDED IN SAID SLEEVE DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSITE FROM SAID POURING OPENING AND CLOSER TO SAID BOTTOM ANNULAR SHOULDER.
 7. IN A TAMPERPROOF CLOSURE, THE COMBINATION OF AN ELONGATED, HOLLOW, CYLINDRICAL MALE FITTING AND A FEMALE RECEPTACLE, THE SAID FITTING BEING CONTAINED WITHIN THE SAID RECEPTACLE, THE SAID FITTING TERMINATING AT THE BOTTOM THEREOF IN AN OUTWARDLY PROJECTING BARB AND TERMINATING AT THE 